Houston, TX – The Houston Texans will enter Sunday’s home matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals without one of their most dynamic playmakers. Wide receiver Nico Collins, a two‑time Pro Bowl selection, was placed on the injury report as “out” after dealing with a hamstring strain during practice.

Impact on the Texans’ offense

Collins, who stands 6‑foot‑4 and recorded seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Texans’ Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills, has been a key target for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. His size and route‑running ability give defenses a difficult problem, and his absence will require Stroud to lean more heavily on the remaining depth at receiver.

With Collins sidelined, the Texans plan to give increased snaps to Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte. All three have shown flashes of playmaking ability and will be expected to fill the void in the passing game. Tight end Dalton Schultz, a reliable safety‑valve target, will also see more involvement, especially in short‑yard and red‑zone situations.

Running back David Montgomery steps up

Running back David Montgomery, who scored three touchdowns in the opening loss, is likely to see a larger share of the workload. Montgomery’s ability to convert in the red zone will become even more critical as the Texans look to compensate for the loss of Collins’ scoring threat.

Bengals’ injury concerns

The Bengals are not without their own injury questions. Quarterback Joe Burrow and defensive tackle B.J. Hill are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Burrow, however, has publicly stated his intention to play, signaling that the Bengals will likely field their starting offense.

Both teams will be testing the depth of their rosters, a factor that often decides games early in the season when injuries begin to mount.

What fans can expect

Texans fans can anticipate a more balanced offensive attack, with Stroud distributing the ball among a broader group of receivers and Montgomery receiving additional carries. The coaching staff will likely emphasize quick, short passes to mitigate the loss of Collins’ deep‑ball threat, while still looking for opportunities to exploit the Bengals’ secondary.

Defensively, the Texans will need to contain Burrow’s passing attack, especially if the Bengals rely on their aerial game to compensate for any missing pieces on the line.

Looking ahead

If Collins’ hamstring improves quickly, he could return later in the season, but the Texans must be prepared to succeed without him in the short term. The outcome of this Sunday game will set the tone for the Texans’ early‑season trajectory and could influence how the team approaches roster decisions moving forward.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.